From the Publisher
"This series dishes out a lot of information in slim volumes, which all have one sentence per page and a single engaging photograph. Facts are abundant and clearly presented. The titles all end with pages that delve deeper into the topic. Fur, for example, ends with a map of 'Furry Animals Around the World,' while Scales explains how and why snakes shed their skin and Skin shows how human skin is made of three layers. One small quibble: the haphazard indexes are useless. All in all, these are worthy titles." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
With minimal text and large colorful photographs, beginning readers are introduced to scales which are pieces of hard skin on the outside of an animal's body. Fish and reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, all have scales. Many snakes shed their skins and scales—no mention is made as to why. Scales can be thick and rough, soft and shiny, or flat and smooth. Scales are there to protect the animal. There is a more detailed explanation of how a snake sheds its skin, but not why. The spread of interesting facts relates that scales are made of keratin and that the age of certain types of fish can be determined by their scales. There is a picture glossary which uses the images from the book and an index. Part of the "Body Coverings" series which is part of the larger series entitled "First Step Nonfiction." The topics in the series include feathers, fur, scales, shells, and skin. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
